West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-07-08
HERMITs OF THE FAR WEST.
A Curious Social Study-Pioneer Work
Done by Rscluses.

A Curious Social Study-Pioneer Work
Done by Rscluses.
Few persons who hEN not considerable
familiarity with some part of the country
westward from the base of the Rockies
have any idea of the great numbers of
men who throughout that region lead
hermitlike lives. To me it is as matter
of course on approaching a dwelling, be
it q rusty Sx10 cabin or place fit for a
decent family home, to find it occupied
by but one man, who will tell me that he
Is '.baching il" living quite alone except
for the company Of stray visitors at odd
times.
Generally the western semi-hermit has
a strong dash of independence in his
character. He is poor, and dislikes to
work with sboss" over him, so he sets
out to try what he can do on his own ac-
count. He goes about making little
farm. He has a few head of cattle, a
small herd of hogs, or something of that
kind. He frequently has quartz mine
which he is endeavoring to develop by
slow and onerous toll. In parts where
there is still some gold to be got by placer
mining he is likely to be engaged for
portion of his time in that method OF
earning living nowadays more than
ever an uncertain and ungrateful way OF
gaining subsistence. In ''wooden
country" the hermit may work with the
az, cutting firewood, or making railway
ties, fence rails, posts, shingles, or what
not, according to the suitability of the
timber.
An immense amount of the pioneer
work of the new countries is done by the
recluses. They are always at the front
of regular settlement, rambling around
and exploring until they happen on spots
that strike their fancy. They are the dis
coverers of the finest tracts Of agricul-
tural land, of the best springs, Of the
most desirable timber. They know more
about the country in which they dwell
than anybody else. They begin forest
clearings, fence their claims in whole or
part, find out practicable routes for new
trails. They are great fellows for making
plans and schemes on large scale. They
nose out all the natural resources and adj
vantages of the land, ard imagine what
they do not nose out, and on that foun-
dation build dreams of fortune. Far
more often than not at all the reward OF
their discoveries, their toll and schening
is bare existence. Here and there one
of them accumulates considerable prop
erty, but by the time that has been ac-
complished he has become too strongly
fixed i'm his habits to care for another
mode OF life.
They are generally men pat or fairly
ON toward middle age who ego ii alone
in the western lands. The younger ia,
lows without families and who are trying
to "do for themselves" always prefer To
have a partner; and if, as happens in
most instances, the partnership breaks up
in a row, the members of the concern
hunt employment where they can havo
companions after their kind. Although
they love their freedom well enough Ia
rebel at the mastership of partner, they
do not love il well enough TO refuse the
mastership of an employer at the expense
of being deprived of the sound and sight
of bssinan voices and faces. When u
young man is found living in lonely state
he is in chronic humor Of discomfort,
growing viciously at his lack Of society
and bent on making change as soon az
circumstances will admit one. He has
in general some well defined purpose in
view, and is doing his level best 20 reach
his goal But as often as not he becomes
disglstcd with himself before his desired
end is attained, and goes back to join the
crowd. Lewis Stornaway in New York
TimcJ.